Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioner Modules Having A Liquid Desiccant Mist Trap

Abstract

A heat exchanger operable to condition air using a liquid desiccant. The heat exchanger includes an airflow inlet, an airflow outlet, heat exchange structures positioned between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet, and a mesh screen positioned at the airflow outlet. Each heat exchange structure has a surface for flow of the liquid desiccant. The mesh screen selectively removes entrained liquid desiccant from the air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger operable to condition air using a liquid desiccant, the heat exchanger comprising:
 an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet;   heat exchange structures positioned between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet, each heat exchange structure having a surface for flow of the liquid desiccant; and   a mesh screen positioned at the airflow outlet to selectively remove entrained liquid desiccant from the air.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh screen is made from a hydrophobic polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is compatible with the liquid desiccant. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh screen is made from a hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylics, polyesters, nylons, rayon, polyethersulfone, fluorocarbon polymers, vinyl chlorides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , further comprising a liquid desiccant collection reservoir positioned below the mesh screen. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh screen has openings at a size between 1 micrometer to 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh screen has between 20% to 80% open area. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of each structure for the flow of the liquid desiccant is an exposed outer surface for direct contact between the liquid desiccant and the air. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the structures each include a membrane positioned on the surface, wherein a desiccant channel is defined between the membrane and the surface for the flow of the liquid desiccant. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger operable to condition air using a liquid desiccant, the heat exchanger comprising:
 an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet;   heat exchange structures positioned between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet, each heat exchange structure having a surface for flow of the liquid desiccant; and   a mesh screen positioned at the airflow outlet and removably connected to the heat exchange structures.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the mesh screen is removably connected to the heat exchange structures using two couplers, wherein each coupler is connected to an end of the mesh screen and is inserted into slots defined by the heat exchange structures. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each coupler is a flexible clip connected to the respective end of the mesh screen, the clip including a first portion hingedly joined to a second portion, the first portion including fittings that are inserted into holes defined at the end of the mesh screen and the second portion including openings sized to receive the fittings when the clip is in a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the clip is retained in the slots defined by heat exchange structures by teeth in the slots that engage the clip. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the mesh screen is made from a hydrophobic polymer material. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , further comprising a liquid desiccant collection reservoir positioned below the mesh screen. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the surface of each structure for the flow of the liquid desiccant is an exposed outer surface for direct contact between the liquid desiccant and the air. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the structures each include a membrane positioned on the surface, wherein a desiccant channel is defined between the membrane and the surface for the flow of the liquid desiccant. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 channeling air through the heat exchanger, wherein the air flows in an airflow direction through an airflow inlet of the heat exchanger, airflow gaps defined between adjacent heat exchange structures of the heat exchanger, and an airflow outlet of the heat exchanger;   channeling a liquid desiccant to each of the heat exchange structures, wherein the liquid desiccant flows across a surface of each heat exchange structure; and   selectively removing entrained liquid desiccant from the air using a mesh screen positioned at the airflow outlet.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising collecting the removed liquid desiccant in a liquid desiccant reservoir positioned below the mesh screen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising conditioning the air using the liquid desiccant flowing across the surface of each heat exchange structure, wherein moisture is transferred between the air and the liquid desiccant by one of: i) direct contact between the air and the liquid desiccant; and ii) permeating the moisture through a membrane positioned on the surface of each heat exchange structure.